Panch Badri Temples In Uttarakhand: Abodes Of Lord Vishnu

Introduction

Panch Badri is a pilgrimage circuit that consists of five temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. These temples are Badrinath, Adi Badri, Vridha Badri, Bhavishya Badri, and Yogadhyan Badri. All these temples are located in the lap of the Himalayas and are not only known for pilgrimage but also for the beautiful view and serene environment. Out of these temples, Badrinath is the most famous, as it is the prominent temple of the main Char Dham Yatra, which includes visits to Puri, Dwarka, and Rameshwaram temples in addition to this temple, and the Chota Char Dham tour of Uttarakhand, which includes visits to the Yamunotri temple, Gangotri temple, Kedarnath temple, and Badrinath temple and Do dham yatra which include visit to Kedarnath and Badrinath temples. But all the temples of this circuit hold great importance, and every year, thousands of devotees visit these temples to get the blessings of Lord Vishnu.

Interesting, right? So without wasting time, let's dive deep into the ocean of devotion and explore more about these temples one by one.

Badrinath Temple

Located at an altitude of 3,133 meters (10,279 feet) above sea level in the lap of the Himalaya in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Badrinath temple is one of the most prominent temples of Uttarakhand. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and he is being worshipped here in the meditative form. It is also known as the temple of Satyuga, and it is believed that lord Vishnu used to meet all the devotees visiting this temple in person, but later in Dwapar and Treta yuga, he used to meet only saints and people with a certain degree of attainment. It is said that all those who visit the Badrinath temple in Kalyuga can attain salvation, and hence one of the most famous sayings about this temple is "जो जाए बद्री वो ना आए ऊदरी," which means that all those who visit the Badrinath temple get rid of the cycle of birth and death and attain salvation. In addition to being an important pilgrimage site, Badrinath Temple is also known for the remarkable beauty all around the temple, and hence thousands of devotees visit this temple to seek the blessings of Lord Vishnu and admire the beauty of this place.

You can also read:- Do Dham Yatra Package

Mythological stories behind Badrinath Temple

As per the holy scriptures and mythological stories, it is said that this is the same place where Lord Vishnu had meditated for thousands of years. As this region faced harsh weather, Maa Laxmi protected him by taking the form of a berry tree well known as Badri. After completing his meditation, when Lord Vishnu noticed Maa Laxmi, he admired her dedication toward him and blessed her that from now onwards, this place would be known as Badrinath.

Another mythological story says that after meeting Lord Shiva at Kedarnath, the Pandavas visited the Badrinath temple and, taking blessings from Lord Vishnu, started their journey toward heaven. They went to heaven with their wife and one dog through the Swargarohini peak, which is located near the temple.

It is also said that during the regime of Lord Ashoka, due to the over-flourishing of Buddhism, this temple was taken over by Buddhists and was converted into a monastery. But Adi Shankaracharya, with the help of the local king and some villagers, re-established it as a Hindu pilgrimage site.

Adi Badri

Located at an altitude of 1800 meters (5905 feet) above sea level in the lap of the Himalaya in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Adi Badri is the second temple of the Panch Badri temple circuit. This temple consists of 16 small temples built in the Nagara style of architecture and was built by using stone and mortar, depicting the architectural brilliance of the Gupta and pre-Gupta periods. The main temple houses a 1-meter-tall black stone idol in a standing posture with four arms holding a conch (shankha), discus (chakra), lotus (padma), and mace (gada), depicting Lord Vishnu. Other temples here are dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Shiva, Durga, and other deities of the Hindu religion. As per the holy scriptures and mythological stories, it is believed that once the Badrinath temple became inaccessible, devotees would visit the Adi Badri temple to seek the blessings of Lord Vishnu.

Vridha Badri

Image Source:- Dev Dham Yatra

Located at an altitude of 1,380 meters (4,530 ft) above sea level in the lap of the Himalaya, Vridha Badri is the third temple of the Panch Badri circuit. It is the place where Lord Vishnu is depicted as an old sage, and unlike the Badrinath temple, which remains open just for six months in a year, this temple remains open throughout the year. As per the mythological story, sage Narada performed intense penance at this place seeking the divine vision of Lord Vishnu. Getting pleased with his penance, Lord Vishnu appeared at this place to bless him. Another myth states that the idol of Badrinarayan was originally carved at Vridha Badri by divine forces but was later moved to Badrinath by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, who re-established Vishnu worship in the region. This temple is located in the lap of the Himalaya and provides a perfect environment for meditation and spiritual enlightenment.

Bhavishya Badri

Image Source:- Rishikesh day tour

Located at an altitude of 2,744 meters (9,003 ft) above sea level in the lap of the Himalaya in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Bhavisha Badri temple means feature Badrinath temple. Located in Subhai village, about 17 km from Joshimath, this temple is believed to be worshipped as a Badrinath temple. As per the holy scriptures and mythological story, it is said that in Kalyuga, when the Nar and Narayana temple surrounding the Badrinath temple collapses due to a natural calamity, making the Badrinath temple inaccessible, then devotees can have darshan of Lord Vishnu in this temple. This belief makes this temple one of the most prominent pilgrimage spots.

Another legend states that Sage Narada meditated at Bhavishya Badri, and during his penance, he had a vision of Lord Vishnu appearing at this very location in the future. The idol of Narasimha (Vishnu’s lion incarnation) at the Narasimha Temple in Joshimath is also believed to be slowly shrinking, signaling the fulfillment of the prophecy.

Yogadhyan Badri

Located in the serene village of Pandukeshwar, Yogdyan Badri is the last temple of the Panch Badri circuit. This is the place where Lord Vishnu is being worshipped in his meditative form. As per the mythological story, it is said that King Pandu, the father of the Pandavas, did extensive penance at this place to get rid of his sin. Getting pleased with his penance, Lord Vishnu had appeared before him in the meditative form. The king had established Lord Vishnu's idol in this place in the same meditative form before renouncing the world and attaining moksha. Anyone visiting this temple can see the black idol of Lord Vishnu in meditative form established in this temple. The temple follows traditional Himalayan stone architecture, blending simplicity with spiritual energy. Several other smaller shrines within the complex are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and other deities, enhancing its religious significance. During winter, when Badrinath Temple is closed, the Utsav Murti (festival idol) of Lord Badrinarayan is brought to Yogadhyan Badri and worshipped there.

Conclusion:

Panch Badri is the collection of five divine temples that depict Lord Vishnu in different divine manifestations. Each of these temples holds unique mythological, historical, and spiritual significance, representing the different phases of Lord Vishnu on the sacred land of Uttarakhand. Whether it is the majestic Badrinath, the ancient Adi Badri, the prophetic Bhavishya Badri, the meditative Yogadhyan Badri, or the elderly form of Vishnu at Vridha Badri, each temple provides devotees with a soul-enriching experience. For pilgrims and spiritual seekers, a visit to the Panch Badri circuit is believed to bring divine blessings, inner peace, and ultimately, liberation (moksha).

FAQs

What are the five Badri temples?

The five Badri temples are the Panch Badri Temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, including these five iconic temples:

Vishal Badrinath
Bhavishya Badri
Yogdhyan Badri
Vridha Badri
Adi Badri

Where is Panch Badri?

The Panch Badri Temple is located in the Badri Kshetra of the Garhwal region in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Each temple is situated at a specific location near towns, like Badrinath, Joshimath, and Karnaprayag:

Vishal Badrinath– Badrinath Town
Bhavishya Badri– Subhain Village near Joshimath
Yogdhyan Badri– Pandukeshwar
Vridha Badri– Animath Village
Adi Badri– Near Karnaprayag

What is the story behind Panch Badri?

The story behind the Panch Badri temple is dedicated to different avatars of Lord Vishnu. Each temple has a different story behind it, which emphasizes the presence of Lord Vishnu. For detailed information, read the blog above.

How to visit Panch Badri?

You can visit the Panch Badri temple via road, train, and air. To save time, you can commute by flight to the nearest airport, Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. For budget travel, you can travel by train to the nearest railheads, Haridwar and Rishikesh, then continue by road to the temple.